OCR Text |
Show GEN. RICHMOND DEMENT Utah's Xew Surreyor-General Snb-mits Snb-mits to the IneTitable Interriew, i In Which He GiTes the 'Democrat" His Opinion on Utah Matters in General, Including: Mormons and Gentiles, Federal Fed-eral Offices and Other Subjects of Interest. Yesterday afternoon a Democrat reporter re-porter dropped into the office of the United Uni-ted States Surveyor, and in the front room of the office found General Richmond Rich-mond H. Dement, the late appointee to the position ot Surveyor-General of this Territory. - Uion introducing himself the General welcomed the reporter and asked him to be seated. After a few introductory introduc-tory and casual remarks, the following interview in-terview took place : Reporter When did you arrive ? Turning in his chair, and looking out of the raised window upon the scene of the city and valley to the westward, the General replied: "Sunday night; myself my-self and brother, Ambrose E. Dement, whom I have since made my chief clerk." Reporter What are your impressions of the city? General I am very favorably impressed im-pressed with Salt Lake City. With the people we are pleased far beyond what we expected to be. I have" met in a social ana semi-omcial way something like 200 leading citizens. The Alta Club, through the courtesy of Mr. Receiver Wallace, were pleased to extend to my brother and myself the privileges of the Club, and we have met many of the gentlemen gen-tlemen to whom I refer there. I am quite sure, as I have already written home, that 95 per cent., or probably more, will compare favorably with our best Eastern commercial circles. In my opinion Boston Bos-ton and Chicago are more nearly represented repre-sented here in the character of your people peo-ple than New York, however. There is a peculiarity about our Eastern people-each people-each city has its manners and customs, ana wnue i nave met very few here who would be called New York people, I have met quite a number of Boston people and a still larger per cent, of the higher class commercial people of Chicago. Reporter What do vou think of the Territory? General We arrived in the night, and I have not even been able to see beyond the limits of the city. I came at once to my office and proceeded regularly to take possession, which I did the day after my arrival, since which time, the business having accumulated to a considerable extent in consequence of a desire not to run the old business of the office into the new, I found much that required immediate imme-diate attention, and have already disposed dis-posed of 'some ot the more important cases tliat were pending. It will probably require some days before I shall be able to look about much. Reporter Can you give any idea about the changes in the present employes of the office? General I will not make anv further changes in the office at present, having already appointed my chief clerk. The machinery of this office is doubtless of a more complicated character than is generally gen-erally understood by the public. To make a change in the working force of tne office, until the office is prepared for it, and new men prepared for . the positions, po-sitions, would be like putting a new and imperfectly adjusted cog wheel - into a delicate piece of machinery. As soon as it is proper from this consideration and as soon as it will be to the interest of the government, it is my purpose to replace from time to time some of the present employes with gentlemen who will be found at least equally capable and in sympathy with the Administration. Reporter Do your assistants include any outside of the office in this city? General Yes; but it is not to those outside of the office that I referred in what I have lust stated. Reporter Give me an idea how those are affected by this office. General All employes of the government govern-ment acting under commissions and directions from this office, are, of course, responsible to the Surveyor-General for the fidelity with which they perform their duties; this includes quite a large number num-ber of deputy surveyors and examiners of surveys. Reporter Are these deputv surveyors and examiners of surveys, county surveyors? sur-veyors? . I i t?l No 8ir- 1 have nothing to do with the appointment of countv surveyors. sur-veyors. J Reporter You spoke, in the first part ?.Lmterview' comparing our people with Chicago and Boston people. Am I to understand that you intend to classifv the Mormons and Gentiles? General No sir. In the conduct of the Surveyor-General's office there shall be nothing that shall conflict with strict business principles. I regard my position as of a purely executive character, and understand that it is no part of my dutv to consider anything but questions of a business character pertaining to the office. In a word, as United States Surveyor-General of this Territory I represent repre-sent the interest of the Interior Depart- '' ment, and am m nowise connected with 3 the Judicial DeDartmpnt Reporter Do you refer to Mormons or gentiles in comparison with Boston or Chicago people? General To that question I must reply re-ply that I do not know. Doubtless most of the gentlemen I have met are classed with what seems to be known here as the Gentile element. Still, I do not know what proportion. Reporter Will you be kind enough to give your view of the Administration? General While I am supposed to be ' well pleased with it, taking inv own appointment ap-pointment into consideration, yet bevond this and leaving it entirely out of the question, I do not hesitate to sav that in i my opmion, the President has done what. nas been wisest and best for the interest of the country and for the political party which he represents. With others, I was a little impatient at first for a more rapid change in the offices, and had it been in my power should, doubtless, have proceeded pro-ceeded more heroically in the treatment of the case, but I am satisfied now that such a procedure would not have been as wise as that followed by President Cleveland, Cleve-land, and I think that the Democrats throughout the country are coming to a hke conclusion. The machinery of this Government is complicated to a verv much greater extent than is popularly supposed. Reporter Can you say anything as to the federal appointments in this Territory? Terri-tory? I General Of course I cannot speak from any authority, but I can give mv opinion for what it may be worth. I think that there will probably be a change in a very short time in the position of Postmaster in this city, and likewise in the Register of the Land Office, as soon as his time may expire, which is close at hand. I do not anticipate any immediate change in the office of Governor or in the judicial department; but, as I say, this is merely my opinion. I think it may be further added, that the Administration is I I heartily well pleased with Judge Zane, and, giving my opinion simply as a pri- vate citizen not, of course, from any ofli-i ofli-i cial standpoint I do not think that Judge j Zane has any reason to fear even a re-j re-j mote danger of removal. This I give you, as I have said, as a private opinion, and what may be proper political news. Reporter Will the Administration continue the same policy that it has thus far, of making appointments for this Territory Ter-ritory from applicants outside the Terri-tory? Terri-tory? ! General I am not empowered to speak for the Administration, but am willing to give you my opinion. I do not think that the Administration has intended to be understood as adopting a policy con cerning appointments made thus far in the Territories. Selections were intended to be made without regard to geographical geograph-ical distinction, and to select the best from what was presented. The Administration Adminis-tration it maybe has made mistakes, but appointments have ' not been made in pursuance of a policy. So far as my own case is concerned, I have been trying to shape my business for a number of years so that I might take up a residence in the West. I regard the West as a great field for young men who hope to attain a position of influence and usefulness, and I have long thought that the Terri- j tory of Utah, and particularly Salt Lake City, afforded the greatest possibilities. The Territory has a national fame for its wonderful climate, the high character of its soil and mineral resources, and Salt Lake City has acquired almost as great fame for the character of its leading citizens. citi-zens. In my opinion there is no asylum for drones and sluggards here, but a paradise par-adise for men of proper motives, industry indus-try and enterprise. Reporter From what you have said, it is possible you may become a permanent perma-nent resident? General Not only possible, but in my present opinion most highly probable. After further social chat, the reporter thanked General Dement for his courtesy of the interview and' took his departure. In appearance, the General is about five feet six inches in height, light complexion, com-plexion, and looks to be about thirty-three years of age. In this matter, however, the General very much deceives his appearance, for he is forty-three years old and a grandfather, too. The Demo-chat Demo-chat welcomes General Dement to his new field of labor, and wishes him all the success that his ambition promps him to hope. |